Shrivenham hoping to banish T20 hearbreak

SHRIVENHAM return to league action this weekend as they travel to Oxenford hoping to continue their chase of OCA Division One’s top four.

After last week’s Twenty20 finals-day heartache, where Alex Bowles’s men toppled league leaders Westbury in the semi-final only to suffer defeat to Cowley International in the final, Shrivenham are hoping to bounce back against a rejuvenated Oxenford side, who are unbeaten in their last three.

Shrivenham skipper Bowles insisted that his side will not let last week’s disappointment affect Saturday’s performance.

“Obviously, we were gutted to lose in the final, but we have taken huge positives from last weekend still,” he explained.

“We claimed wins over leaders Westbury on Saturday in the league and in the T20 on Sunday, so hopefully we’ll use those games to give us massive confidence going into Oxenford.”

Shrivenham’s opponents this Saturday, Oxenford, have experienced a turn in fortunes in recent weeks and, after back-to-back wins, climbed out of the division’s bottom two into seventh, and Bowles is wary of the confidence the hosts will have carry into the game.

“They struggled early on in the year, and so after two wins in a row, they’ll have found a new sense of belief and confidence,” he said.

“We know they are a threat and can beat any side on their day, so it will be up to us to make it as difficult as possible for them.

“A win for us closes the gap with that top-four spot we are chasing, so it’s a massive opportunity to get that much needed win too.”